An Extensive Review of Apologia Science For High School

In this house, we love science. Discovering how things work, how they function, playing with ingredients, memorizing the elements of the Periodic Table, assembling boxes of physics activities, and performing chemistry experiments, reading on plate tectonics or atomic theory – we’ve done a little bit of everything over the years. And it’s not because dad is a doctor; he likes a break from his work and ironically, his passion is history.

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My second daughter is very much interested in sciences, and hopes to follow dad into the medical field. Having had exposure to the operating room, pediatrics and med/surg rounds with dad on our African volunteer trips, she has always been eager to listen to stories he brings home from emergency, or the medical clinic when he worked there, or from labor and delivery when he delivered babies. Before she was in kindergarten, she had a special interest in underseas studies. There were the summers she and her older sister planted a large plot of carrots, then weeded, then harvested. This kids’ passion for science has always been there.

 

Each of our children has had their unique science interests. Two loved the Chem C500 boxes and spent a semester completing them. Two kids had a fascination with forensic sciences, exploring forensic science kits. Their unique interests have expanded our science world.
Just as I learned that math studies could not be avoided in the real world, (even if you try to unschool it by tossing out the math workbooks for six months) it turns out the world is also covered in science concepts too. Go figure.

 

Science is everywhere. Natural sciences, like pond studies, algae growth and frog life cycles, astronomy studies, learning constellations and moon phases, chemical sciences, like practicing vinegar-baking soda volcanoes outside and recognizing chemical elements or compounds around us, biological sciences like the reproduction cycle and the brain function, physical sciences, like gravitational pull and why if the textbook dropped from seventeen feet above the main floor will likely kill your toddler brother.

 

Apologia Science For High School

We have used Apologia textbooks and workbooks since my oldest was in her older elementary years. At the time, I thought it was a bit detailed and I was right, in a way. It was a bit detailed for the oldest child, because she wasn’t as interested in sciences. But that was looking through the eyes of just one of my children. My other children thoroughly enjoyed the study of marine animals or zoology or astronomy.

 

Having enjoyed biological sciences in high school and pursued nursing sciences in university, I was most interested in equipping my kids with the option of a reputable and detailed science course that Apologia offers.

 

Understanding that my second daughter is naturally academic and studious by nature, I share with you what she says about Apologia:

 

“You have to care about doing the work; otherwise, it would be easy to cheat, pretending you did it or doing notebook checks yourself. I like the amount of coursework. There are practical, doable at-home labs. They are useful. The teachers are super thorough in their lab expectations. Deadlines are expected to be followed and maintained within a time frame. You have to put in the work to get good grades. A classroom of on-line students is useful because there are fewer distractions, though there are still kids that ask dumb questions. The teacher can disable the chat box in the chatroom so the distractions are minimized. There is one on-line class a week after you’ve done all the reading. The course content is thorough, things are
explained well, things are not easy. They are challenging. There are around fifteen pages of textbook reading a week, with thirty pages for each module. A module occurs every two weeks with a regular exam every two weeks.”

 

I also appreciate the focused chem lab time. My oldest daughter did two years of public high school and not a chem lab was found in that Chemistry classroom. I was floored.
In my opinion, the only reason you could quibble with this science curriculum is that it centers on creation sciences, if that weren’t your point of reference. Naturally, I think this is a great reason why one should study science through Apologia. Give credit where credit is due.
Not every child is the sit and read, organized, scheduled and detailed kind of learner though. Different subject preferences for different kids. Different learning styles for each kid too.

               

 

 

Additional Ideas For Science Minded Kids:

Chem C500

We’ve had three kids interested in chemistry. This fun box of chemistry experiments has its own lab equipment. It explains what to do and why you’re doing it. Just assume an underlay of newspaper (iodine is involved), the kids have gloves (even if the substance isn’t toxic, they can learn to be young scientists using lab practice), and give them a sequence for completing lab reports (if they’re eager or old enough). Or you if you want to keep it basic, and understand the contents of a lab report you can find many versions on-line.

Visit the Ocean

We live in the mountains, so the ocean topography is novel. This summer, we drove to the Canadian Pacific Coast to visit post secondary schools. Wherever you live, engage it like you’re a tourist. And if you’re doing undersea study, consider the Apologia textbook “Zoology.” There are fun workbooks that accompany Apologia textbooks. Apologia also offers on-line courses.

Get an Animal

Yeah, I know, this is a big homeschool science commitment. This year we have been learning to care for our Great Pyrenees. Training her to stay in our non-fenced 3 acres, learn to sit, stay, come, wait. Walk her around the perimeter of our property, take her on two hour hikes, socialize her with other new friends. Learn her breed habits, her food needs, her food restrictions, teach her to not use the chickens as play toys, learn to guard the homestead without attacking our friends or alienating our neighbors. Help to administer treatments, learn about vaccines and breeding. Big commitment. Definitely veterinary science.

Identify Local Plants

Determine if you can consume those local plants, press them, dry them to make soap or moisturizers, or use them as poultices. Diagram them, label them, make your own botany notebook.

Attend Local ‘sciencey’ Activities

The Vancouver Olympics had a mobile medical clinic created to move from one Olympic venue to another. This mobile clinic visited our town. We got to watch a mock intubation and have all the emergency equipment explained which was even pretty cool for me, as my husband does this for his work.

CPR Training Class

Take a first aid class or CPR traning class, or ask to watch one. Medical stuff is on my radar, obviously, but there are everyday activities we overlook, ones associated with our partner’s work. Just think outside the box.

Science Boxes

Inside these boxes are great science lessons to be learned. The  salt- powered robot and the Solar Rover are favorites of ours. This year, we are sprinkling in the use of these fun boxes about every six weeks or so.

Usborne Books

If there was anything I would sell, it would be Usborne books. They are clearly laid out, contain loads of information, and kids want to look at them over and over. Even for those of us who are foreign to a science subject, and happen to be well over the market age range for Usborne, these resources are useful beginnings. There’s an Usborne book for pretty much every topic.

YouTube

Supplement your kids science knowledge with clever YouTube channels. Our kids have enjoyed the following: Crash Course Kids, Freeschool, Make Me a Genius, Learning Junction.

 

Our world was fearfully and wonderfully made. We know so much, and yet we know so little. Whatever science topic you explore, let fun and awe guide you.

 

 

Teresa Wiedrick is always eager to share the freedoms of the homeschool lifestyle with the skeptical,
the intrigued, or the interested. Ten years ago, she was searching for arguments against homeschooling,
and that search informed her next decade.

A heart advocate of home education mamas, she’s writing a book on Self-Care for the Homeschool
Mama. She can be found on-line Capturing the Charmed Life and on Instagram and Twitter. She cannot
be found on Snap Chat, because she is too old for that.